Danbury Mint 1:24 1936 Packard V-12 Sport Phaeton Diecast Model

Reviewed by:
Tony F Perrone

By the time I wrote my millionth diecast review, or so it seemed at the time, I was referring to those halcyon days as, “The Golden Age of Diecast.” But alas, the Golden Age is dead; long live the Golden Age. Well pull up the reins Molly and whoa down your horses, ‘cause it seems that they are back! For a fleeting time or here to stay, I can’t answer, but we can enjoy the good old days once more with Danbury’s finest moment in some time.

In ‘Packard Blue’, this long, impressive automobile is instantly opulent and monumentally momentous. For this issue, DM put back all the little niceties that were obvious in the dawn of that by-gone era of precision model making. Details and operating features burst forth in a flood of nostalgic excitement and at a price point that is also reminiscent of the Golden Age. For example; we get both an up top and a boot to allow different display options. The luggage rack folds up and down. The trunk opens on a telescoping prop rod. All four doors open on external hinges and snap shut tightly. DM made the dual cowl in back functional with twin prop rods. We can display it up or down, with or without the windscreen up or down.

When the cowl and windscreen are down, the wind wings can be folded flat. The rear arm rest folds up or down. The front windshield opens outwardly while the wind wings are posable. That Golden Age feeling coming back to you yet? I was immediately struck by the model’s classic look. It was probably due to the dark, nearly black, paint finish. It is exceptionally glossy and evenly applied. DM also added the astonishingly thin red pinstripe accent; maybe the thinnest-scaled such application I have seen in a 1:24th replica. The wheels carry realistic valve stems, trim rings and painted logo hub caps. Check out the minute springs that simulate coiled wiring on the windshield lights. Then examine the phenomenal dash, floorboards and the rear passenger’s footrests.

The V12 is massive. It fills up the engine bay leaving room only for DM’s masterful detailing. Would we expect anything less from them? This model is an exact replica of the 1:1 car owned by Mr. Robert McCormick of newspaper publishing fame. I am extremely happy to see this choice of auto appear as a new tooling. Hopefully, more pre-war vehicles will make their way into the new age of appreciation.